Young and virtuous, Nachiketa and Satyakama had one thing in common - they sought true knowledge. The song of birds, the thunder of rain clouds, and the glow of the morning sun revealed life's secrets to Satyakama. Coming face to face with the lord of death, Nachiketa found the key to immortality. The lessons the two seekers learned were priceless, for they opened to others the door to eternal bliss.
Nachiketa was the son of Vajashravas, a poor but very ambitious Brahmin. Wanting to be famous as a daani, Vajashravas performed a great yajna in which he planned to give away many cows in daana. Unfortunately, all the cows were completely useless and emaciated. Noticing that anything given in daana must be of use to the receiver, Nachiketa was upset and asked his father to whom he planned to give his son away in daana. In anger, the father said that he would gift him to Yama. Taking his father’s words as gospel, Nachiketa left for Yama’s abode immediately, something that was unheard of. The father repented his anger and felt helpless. Finding that Lord Yama wasn’t there, he waited for him outside for three days without eating or drinking water. After Yama returned, he and his wife felt guilty for a brahmachari guest had been left unattended. In lieu of it, Yama asked the boy to ask for three boons. Nachiketa asked him to ensure that his father would not worry about him and would welcome him when he returned home. Next, Yama taught him Agnividya , which was the second boon. As the third boon, Nachiketa wanted to know about the Ultimate Truth – whether man exists after death. Yama was dumbfounded because this was a secret even the Devas were not aware of. How could a young boy be let into it? Yama tried to attract him with other gifts but the boy was very firm. Finally, Yama explained to him what Atma Vidya meant and was pleased to give him jnana deeksha. Nachiketa acquired Brahmavidya from the Lord of Death and then returned to his father who became his son’s disciple. This is the story of Nachiketa as it appears in the Kathopanishad. Our other books here can be searched using #BharathaSamskruthiPrakashana
Sadhguru presents a rare glimpse of undiluted truth from discourses given to seekers at the Isha Yoga Center and around the world. A tool of tremendous value in an age imprisoned by materialism and dogma, these dialogues are an essential key to inner exploration of the profound questions of humanity: Who am I? Why are we here? What is the meaning of life? The master speaks with undeniable logic and wisdom that penetrates the deepest realms of our heart and soul
A New York Times Notable Book: A policeman chases a falsely accused man on a wild journey around the world in this “utterly involving” novel (The Sunday Times). When eight-year-old Nachiketa Bose first arrives in the East Bengali village of Lalpukur, he receives the name Alu—potato—for the size and shape of his extraordinary head. His uncle Balaram, the local schoolmaster and phrenology enthusiast, sends Alu to apprentice as a weaver, and the boy soon surpasses the skill of his master. But when a tragic bombing leaves Alu suspected of terrorism, he flees across India to Bombay and the Arabian Sea, followed all the way by the dogged policeman—and avid ornithologist—Jyoti Das. From East Bengal to the Persian Gulf and North Africa, Amitav Ghosh’s wild and extraordinary novel “follows in the footsteps of magical realists like Gabriel García Márquez and Salman Rushdie” (The New York Times Book Review). “A novelist of dazzling ingenuity.” —San Francisco Chronicle “A Scheherezade effortlessly spinning tales within tales, the possessor of a strong narrative voice quite like no other.” —Newsday “Ghosh’s writing soars, producing electric images.” —The Baltimore Sun “A wonderful mix of magic and horror, wit and curiosity . . . Ghosh has really woven a fresh world for us to visit.” —Providence Sunday Journal
Kaya Yoga is a holistic system of health and well-being attained through the disciplined practice of a series of processes that start with a proper diet. Kaya Yoga lays emphasis on the proper intake of air, consumption of water, and a balanced diet. It encourages the regular practice of the very best postures of asana, praanaayama, the techniques of mastiska sanchaalana, bandha, mudraa, and the cleansing of the interior.
Kathopaniñad is a unique Upaniñad which starts with a kathä (a story) of a young boy who is ready to face the Lord of Death in his quest for Truth to know what lies beyond death. He asks the very pertinent and philosophical question, ‘Is there or is there not, and if it is what is it?’ In short, this teaching is an extravaganza of spiritual knowledge and meditation that guides a student step by step to the glorious state of immortality, peace and bliss.
Everyone seeks happiness. Everyone seeks peace. It is easier said than done right? What does it truly take to be happy? How do we even know when we are happy? Across the millennia, the great and weak alike, have thought long and hard about happiness and peace. From the East to the West, philosophers and folk have sacrificed their lives in the search for happiness. In The Keshav Way, Vinay Sutaria draws on a vast body of work, discussing the evolving concepts of happiness. From the ancient sages of the world, up until today, where the self-help industry is booming in its attempt to assert happiness as its own. He takes us on an insightful journey, revealing how we can handle the modern day-to-day struggles that we all face. Whether you are trying to find your purpose, improve relationships, eliminate anxiety, overcome negativity, discover inner calm, or give back to the world; this thought-provoking book will encourage you to change your perspective and align yourself with the life you want to live. In The Keshav Way, you will learn to: • Find your purpose • Improve relationships • Eliminate anxiety • Overcome negativity • Discover inner calm • The truth about happiness
Vishnu, they say, is just one of a powerful threesome, the highest lords of the universe. However, though Brahma has created the universe and Shiva can destroy it, it is up to the great god Vishnu to keep all creatures within it well and happy. Always compassionate, he is also the wisest of the trinity. It is he who good-naturedly sorts out the mess the others create and above all, Vishnu always favors the good and the pure.
The Katha Upanishad embraces the key ideas of Indian mysticism in a mythic story we can all relate to – the quest of a young hero, Nachiketa, who ventures into the land of death in search of immortality. But the insights of the Katha are scattered, hard to understand. Easwaran presents them systematically, and practically, as a way to explore deeper and deeper levels of personality, and to answer the age-old question, “Who am I?” Easwaran grew up in India, learned Sanskrit from a young age, and became a professor of English literature before coming to the West. His translation of The Upanishads is the best-selling edition in English. For students of philosophy and of Indian spirituality, and readers of wisdom literature everywhere, Easwaran’s interpretation of this classic helps us in our own quest into the meaning of our lives. (Previously published as: Dialogue With Death)
Swami Vivekananda was a wonderful storyteller. His talks and writings are interspersed with numerous anecdotes and illustrations. This book published by Advaita Ashrama,a publication centre of Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math, India, contains most of his stories from his nine-volume Complete Works, retold and illustrated.
